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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microbial biofilm formation and community structure on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms
ClearEffects of Plastic Debris on the Biofilm Bacterial Communities in Lake Water
This study found that plastic debris in lake water fosters the growth of a distinct biofilm bacterial community compared to natural surfaces. Plastic-associated biofilms contained bacteria with different metabolic capabilities, and the plastic substrate appeared to enrich potentially harmful microorganisms.
Lacustrine plastisphere: Distinct succession and assembly processes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and role of site, time, and polymer types
Researchers investigated how microbial communities colonize different types of microplastic polymers in freshwater lakes. The study found that bacteria and single-celled organisms follow distinct assembly patterns on microplastic surfaces, with colonization time, location, and polymer type all influencing community composition. These findings suggest microplastics serve as carriers that can promote microbial spread in aquatic environments.
Structural Diversity in Early-Stage Biofilm Formation on Microplastics Depends on Environmental Medium and Polymer Properties
This study examined the early stages of bacterial biofilm formation on different types of plastic surfaces in different environmental media, finding that both the growth medium and the polymer type influenced which microbial communities colonized the plastic. These plastic-associated biofilms (the plastisphere) can make microplastics more appealing to filter-feeding organisms that mistake them for food.
Microplastic biofilm in fresh- and wastewater as a function of microparticle type and size class
Researchers compared the biofilm communities that form on microplastics of different types and sizes in both freshwater and wastewater, finding that biofilm composition was influenced by particle type, size, and water source. These findings advance understanding of the plastisphere — the microbial community unique to plastic surfaces — and its potential role in spreading microorganism-associated risks.
Role of Microplastics as Attachment Media for the Growth of Microorganisms
Researchers reviewed how microplastics serve as attachment media for microbial growth, finding that biofilms forming on microplastic surfaces create unique microbial communities — including potential pathogens — that differ from those in surrounding environments.
Comparative Analysis of Selective Bacterial Colonization by Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics
Biofilm communities were compared on polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics incubated in two freshwater bacterial communities, finding that the original water source bacteria largely determined biofilm composition rather than the plastic type. The study suggests that the plastisphere in freshwater systems reflects local microbial pools more than plastic-specific selection.
Assessing degradation and biofilm formation on disposable food containers of various materials in a lake environment
Researchers assessed biofilm formation on disposable food containers made from different materials, examining how degradation and microbial colonization interact. The study found that plastic food containers support distinct biofilm communities and degrade in ways that generate microplastic particles.
In Situ Investigation of Plastic-Associated Bacterial Communities in a Freshwater Lake of Hungary
Researchers investigated plastic-associated bacterial communities on microplastic surfaces in a Hungarian freshwater lake, finding that the plastisphere harbored distinct microbial communities compared to surrounding water, including potential pathogens and plastic-degrading bacteria.
Evaluation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities on microplastic‐associated biofilms in marine and freshwater environments
Researchers analyzed microbial biofilm communities on microplastic surfaces in both marine and freshwater environments, finding that plastic-associated biofilms harbor distinct prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities with potential roles in plastic biodegradation.
Diversity and structure of microbial biofilms on microplastics in riverine waters of the Pearl River Delta, China
Microbial biofilm communities on microplastics in Pearl River Delta waterways showed distinct composition and diversity compared to surrounding water and natural surfaces, with river environmental conditions more influential than plastic polymer type in shaping biofilm structure.
Long-term study of the bacterial colonization of polypropylene microplastics in a freshwater lake by optical and molecular methods
This long-term study monitored bacterial colonization on polypropylene microplastic surfaces in a freshwater environment over an extended period, tracking how the plastisphere community develops and changes over time. Long-term data on plastisphere development reveals that microplastic surfaces support distinct and evolving microbial communities that differ from surrounding water, potentially harboring pathogenic or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Unique Bacterial Community of the Biofilm on Microplastics in Coastal Water
Researchers compared bacterial communities forming biofilms on steel, silica, and PVC microplastic surfaces in coastal seawater and found that biofilm composition differed by material type. This shows that the type of plastic surface influences which microbial communities colonize it, with implications for how microplastics may spread specific bacteria.
Microbial colonizers of microplastics in an Arctic freshwater lake
Researchers characterized the microbial communities that colonize biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics deployed in an Arctic freshwater lake over eleven days. The study found that the plastisphere microbial community was complex and differed from the surrounding water, with biodegradable plastic attracting distinct bacterial groups, suggesting that microplastic type influences which microorganisms colonize these particles in pristine environments.
Rapid Physicochemical Changes in Microplastic Induced by Biofilm Formation
Researchers studied how biofilm formation rapidly changes the physical and chemical properties of microplastics over a two-week period. The study found significant two-way interactions between microbial communities and plastic surfaces, with biofilm colonization altering surface properties of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, while the type of polymer influenced which microbial communities developed.
Structural and Functional Characteristics of Microplastic Associated Biofilms in Response to Temporal Dynamics and Polymer Types
Researchers found that biofilm structural and functional characteristics on microplastics differ significantly depending on polymer type (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) and change over time, with implications for understanding microbial colonization and the plastisphere.
Evidence for selective bacterial community structuring on microplastics
Plastic substrates incubated in Baltic Sea water developed distinct bacterial communities that differed significantly from those on glass surfaces and from the surrounding water, with some plastic-colonizing taxa selected for regardless of polymer type. The study provides experimental evidence that plastic surfaces act as selective filters for microbial community assembly, contributing to the concept of a unique plastisphere.
Distinct community structure and microbial functions of biofilms colonizing microplastics
Biofilm communities were established on polyethylene, polypropylene, cobblestone, and wood substrates over 21 days under controlled conditions and compared by 16S rRNA sequencing, finding that plastic substrates harbored distinct microbial communities and functional profiles compared to natural materials. The study demonstrates that microplastics in freshwater environments provide a selective niche that enriches for distinct microbial taxa and metabolic functions.
Plastisphere in lake waters: Microbial diversity, biofilm structure, and potential implications for freshwater ecosystems
Using a combination of confocal microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and DNA sequencing, researchers characterized plastisphere biofilms on microplastics from lake water, finding distinct microbial communities on MPs compared to surrounding water including eukaryotic members not previously reported on lake plastispheres. The unique biofilm structure suggests freshwater MPs support specialized ecological niches.
Impacts of Biofilm Formation on the Fate and Potential Effects of Microplastic in the Aquatic Environment
Researchers reviewed how biofilm formation on microplastic surfaces affects the fate and potential ecological effects of microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that biofilms alter particle buoyancy, surface chemistry, and interactions with organisms.
Microbial Communities on Plastic Polymers in the Mediterranean Sea
Researchers collected floating microplastics from a bay in the Mediterranean and analyzed their bacterial biofilm communities using 16S rRNA sequencing, finding that microbial communities on plastics were distinct from surrounding seawater and differed between polymer types.
Microplastic-associated biofilms in lentic Italian ecosystems
Researchers used high-throughput DNA sequencing and fluorescence microscopy to characterize biofilm communities growing on microplastics collected from Italian lake ecosystems. They found that the microbial communities on plastic surfaces differed significantly from those in surrounding water, forming distinct "plastisphere" assemblages. The study reveals that microplastics in freshwater lakes serve as novel habitats for specialized microbial communities, some of which may include potentially harmful species.
Biofilm Structural and Functional Features on Microplastic Surfaces in Greenhouse Agricultural Soil
Researchers studied biofilm formation on five types of microplastics in greenhouse agricultural soil over 30 days at two concentrations. The study found evidence of microbial enrichment on all plastic types, with biofilm community composition varying by polymer type and concentration. The findings suggest that microplastics in agricultural soils serve as distinct microbial habitats that may influence soil microbial ecology.
Microbial Life on the Surface of Microplastics in Natural Waters
Researchers reviewed how microorganisms colonize the surface of microplastic particles floating in natural waters, forming biofilms that can include potentially harmful bacteria. These biofilm-coated microplastics concentrate near the water-air interface and are more readily consumed by aquatic animals than bare plastic particles. The study highlights that understanding microbial life on microplastics is essential for assessing their environmental and public health impacts.
Plastisphere community assemblage of aquatic environment: plastic-microbe interaction, role in degradation and characterization technologies
This review examines the plastisphere—microbial communities colonizing plastic surfaces in aquatic environments—covering how these biofilms form, their role in plastic biodegradation, and current characterization technologies for studying plastic-microbe interactions.